Nike and Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson donated uniforms commemorating alumnus George Floyd to the Yates football team. The Lions wore the new uniforms in Thursday’s win over Washington at Delmar Stadium.
The jersey is black and features the school’s traditional crimson and gold colors on the shoulder stripes and numbers. A patch featuring Floyd’s initials is on the front of the jersey, northwest of the school name. The word “Brotherhood” is on the back of the jerseys where players’ last names usually are. The word “Breathe” is on the inside collar as well.
Floyd, a 1993 graduate of Yates High School, died in Minneapolis police custody in May after being handcuffed and pinned to the ground by an officer’s knee. A viral video of the event in which Floyd tells the officers he can’t breathe sparked renewed protests of the treatment of African-Americans by white policemen.
Floyd played football and basketball at Yates. He was on the 1992 Yates football team that went 13-2-1 before falling to Temple in the Class 5A Division II state championship game. Floyd had three catches for 18 yards in the title game.
Bryan Burney, Watson’s marketing representative, said the Texans quarterback and Nike athlete is happy to help with the process. Yates football head coach Michael Hickey said he is grateful for Nike’s generosity and thankful for Houston Independent School District as well as Yates principal Tiffany Guillory for approving and allowing it to happen.
“It just helps our kids understand and our community understand that we matter,” Hickey said. “Inner-city schools matter. Inner-city football matters. I think it was well-deserved for the kids and the community and we are forever grateful for this.”
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